Image: Michal Krakowiak/Istock.com via AFP Relaxnews
Globetrotting travelers from North America are credited for making 2017 an exceptionally strong travel year in a new report released out of a major trade fair this week.
According to the IPK World Travel Monitor, which analyzes outbound travel behavior in 60 countries, the number of travelers from the United States and Canada who took international outbound trips increased nearly 8 percent in 2017, compared to the previous year, the biggest growth market for travel.
After North America, the number of travelers from Europe rose six percent, followed by Latin America and Asia, both at increases of five percent.
At the country level, Spain was the most popular tourist destination among travelers, followed by the U.S., Germany, France and Italy.
When it comes to the most popular type of holidays, in 2017, travelers were particularly keen on exploring cities, as city trips accounted for an 16 percent increase in growth, followed by sun and beach holidays (9 percent). Interestingly, it seems that travelers are losing interest in packaged tour holidays, as that sector dropped by one percent.
The study also revealed that fears of terrorist threats are waning, with 37 percent of respondents reporting that terror warnings will influence their travel plans in 2018, compared to 41 percent reported in 2017.
Countries that are seeing a recovery in confidence among travelers include Spain, the U.S., Germany and the United Kingdom.
Meanwhile, the IPK International report, released out of travel trade fair ITB Berlin this week, predicts that global outbound travel will spike five percent this year.
The report also predicts travelers from Latin America will be on the move this year, with international travel from the region forecast to grow seven percent, followed by Asia (6 percent), Europe and North America (4 percent each). JB
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